This is probably not news to you, but Americans are at an all-time high when it comes to stress, worry, and anger. It has been said that if you want to gauge the emotional climate of people look at what is happening locally and nationally; is it any wonder we feel this way! Watching the news on any given night offers more anxiety and things to worry about than it does hope. The 2018 Gallup Global Emotions Report states that about “55% of Americans felt stressed about their lives which is a record high for this country.” People are feeling anxious, stressed or angry about the state of the things that are happening in their lives and in the world.

This of course is not everyone, but on a daily basis many will say that they we are experiencing a high level of anxiety and stress. Unfortunately, we don’t come with a guidebook that can help us maneuver through these emotions.

Where do you turn for help when things get overwhelming? I know for many turning to faith in God is an important way to deal with the stress and uncertainly of the world. This is a favorite Bible verse that I like. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”. Romans 15:13

Over time, I have also learned that in addition to having a strong faith, you must also act on your own behalf to improve your situation. Our ability to face stress, worry and anger allows us make decisions about daily living that allows you to look beyond current circumstances and foster joy. This is our greatest asset to living with more abundance and joy. For many, it is not automatic to see joy when things are hard; it is something that needs to be practiced by:

Make a daily intention to invite joy into your life.

Give yourself time to play and to do the things that make you happy.

Express gratitude on a regular basis for the goodness that is in your life, including those who love and support you.

Choose to look at life with a sense of awe and the wonder of a child.

Connect regularly God and practice your faith.

Send blessings to anything that is causing you discomfort, and refuse to carry any anger by taking steps to resolve it.

Acknowledge and connect to the LIGHT that is within you, and allow that to flow from you out into the world.

Expect the miraculous to happen.

It is easy to get stuck in the hard places of life. However, it is with faith and awareness that we have the knowledge to choose to practice ways that helps us move past stress and into cultivating joy. Wishing you joy in your life!

For more inspiration reads check out my book, Change Your Perspective, Change Your Life – 52 Inspiring Ways for YOU to action. Available on Amazon:

If you were to ask me if I was someone that is motivated by challenges, I would say no. But when I look back on my life circumstances, I can recall many instances when someone would tell me I could not do something, only to have me prove them wrong. I did that because as someone whose whole life was challenging, it was the only way to move forward. We all face challenges but if we can develop the mind-set that they are there to either hold us back or push us forward, they can work to our benefit.

I have learned that every challenge presented to me has pushed me forward. In the writing of my second book I was given a challenge by a friend and editor to have the book done by the end of summer. If I was not presented with this challenge, the book might not still be done.

Sometimes we need to challenge ourselves, especially if everything is getting to feel routine and stale. A year ago, I heard a speaker talk about how challenging the last year of her life had been and she decided something different was needed. To change that she challenged herself to find ways to add fun into her life. What she had to say struck a chord with me so I began to challenge myself to find not only things that were fun, but were also new. That is how I decided to learn how to paint Mandala stones and now teach the classes. This challenge will pushed me forward into unexpected opportunities.

If I could leave you with a take away, it would be that I challenge you to try something new…it does not have to be big, just find something that gets you excited to try it! You never know where it may take you!

If you decide you want to challenge yourself with learning to Paint Mandala Stones you can find the registration information below:

CLASS INFORMATION:

Come and learn how to paint these beautiful Mandala’s stones for yourself. This is simple and easy, plus it requires no artistic skill or experiences. Painting these beautiful stones taps into your creative side and it is fun and relaxing. This is open to adults and children 9 and older.

Each class is $25 and includes: instruction, demonstration, handouts, a time to practice and then paint 2-3 stones during the two hour class.

I’m offering these classes in September & October: Both classes are the same so come to one or both:

To Register: Send an email to sthibault12@msn.com with your name, which class you are coming to and the best email to send an invoice to pay online. No refunds

Class size is limited to 12 people so register early. You can purchase something to drink to bring into the class but please limit food items to before or after the class.

I am so excited to be offering this class to help people find ways to relax and have fun! It is much easier than it looks and you will love it and I promise go home relaxed! Want to come with a friend? Just pass this on but you should register together to be sure there is room for both of you.

Come and learn how to paint these beautiful Mandala’s stones for yourself. This is simple and easy, plus it requires no artistic skill or experiences. Painting these beautiful stones taps into your creative side and it is fun and relaxing. This is open to adults and children 9 and older.

Each class is $25 and includes: instruction, demonstration, handouts, a time to practice and then paint 2-3 stones during the two hour class.

I’m offering these classes in September & October: Both classes are the same so come to one or both:

To Register: Send an email to sthibault12@msn.com with your name, which class you are coming to and the best email to send an invoice to pay online. No refunds

Class size is limited to 12 people so register early. You can purchase something to drink to bring into the class but please limit food items to before or after the class.

I am so excited to be offering this class to help people find ways to relax and have fun! It is much easier than it looks and you will love it and I promise go home relaxed! Want to come with a friend? Just pass this on but you should register together to be sure there is room for both of you.

The energy of possibility is far stronger and more exciting than when we are talking about our issues. Have you ever noticed how you feel when you get stuck in negative thoughts? When you are thinking or talking about your issues you become inward focused, and so does your energy. When fear, doubt or worry become the focal point, it is easy to get sucked into a downward spiral that works to keep you stuck.

Granted, this is not where we want to be, yet we all find ourselves there from time to time. When you recognize that you are stuck, that awareness is 80 % of the making a change. After all, nothing can be changed unless there is recognition of it.

Thinking about what is possible is one way to change the energy and look beyond the issue. Begin this by asking a what if question?

What if everything is working together for my good?

What if all the negative things I think about myself, simply are not true?

What if all my needs are being met? What else might be true?

What if I stopped being afraid of change?

Asking what if, begins to open your thinking to a story that is larger than your own. It helps you to think beyond your own limits and into a world of possibility. You don’t have to have it all figured out to tap into this energy.

You can simply begin by imagining the best story for your life. I urge you to think about the most positive and generous response you can have to your life situation. When it comes to ourselves, we often make the most negative and critical assessment of ourselves and our life, assuming it is the only truth. If you can bypass this first response, and embrace a mindset that is open and receptive to seeing beyond the present moment you will begin to notice and begin to see the small miraculous parts of life that are there for you every day.

I want to leave you with one of my favorite quotes: “When your life is filled with the desire to see holiness in everyday life, something magical happens: ordinary life becomes extraordinary, and the very process of life begins to nourish your soul.” ~Rabbi Harold Kushner

The more you look for the extraordinary moments in life, the more you will begin to see what has been there all along. Blessing on your journey.

When you allow your mind to become quiet, you can hear the whispers of your soul. – Sandy Thibault

I have been doing a morning practice for 15 years, and it has become the most valuable thing I have done toward my own personal transformation. Thru this practice I have learned how to quiet my mind, transform my thoughts, and move through life with greater ease and harmony. I will often sit on my deck in the early morning offering gratitude for all of creation. On a recent to trip to Breezy Point, a place that holds many fun memories, I enjoyed this beautiful sunrise as my son worked on his video blog. I hope you will take some time to watch this short video and use it as a way to start your day!

Perspective is a complicated matter. The opinions we hold and live out through our actions, are the things we value, our individual sense of how we think the world should be, as well as our own sense of what we feel is right and what is wrong. We all have a right to our perspective, however learning the value of challenging that perspective is a lesson in spirituality that helps us grow.

As important as it is to hold on to what we believe or how we think life should be, this perspective can also keep us stuck in old thinking. Learning to take a step back to discern if what we think and do still serves us, is a life skill. When we are able to challenge our own beliefs, our actions, and how we relate to others, it helps ourselves and improves our relationships.

Being able to take this step back, provides the space needed to see something from another point of view. Looking at ourselves means opening our mind so we are able to see where we might need a perspective shift. It means we might have to admit we were wrong, forgive our self or someone else or take responsibility for our part. Acknowledging these things provides the opportunity to forgive ourselves and move on. When done with kindness and compassion, it can be a valuable tool for personal growth.

I had no idea how deeply my mission trip to Tanzania would influence my life and impact how I saw myself and the world around me. Having been in the rural areas and small villages of Tanzania for over two weeks, our group traveled to the very remote, mountain top village of Idunda.

We were welcomed there with open arms as most of the village met our vehicles on the road and escorted us with song and dance all the way to their village. We stayed two nights and I think the toll of being in a third world country where nothing was the same was wearing on my friend and I. On the third morning we woke up before sunrise and the rest of the village. The view was breath taking as we watched the sun rise over the mountain and yet, there we were complaining that nothing was like home and how anxious we were to leave. All of a sudden we heard singing coming from the road and soon we saw 5 woman with babies on their backs, carrying 5 gallons of water on their head. We were immediately humbled and I’m sure the look on our faces said it all.

In that moment we could have ignored what we saw or been happy that was not our life, but the moment was too impactful. My friend and I looked at each other and were immediately ashamed of ourselves for complaining about our circumstances. They were after all, carrying extra water for us, given up their cots so we would not have to sleep on the floor and offered us the little food they had.

We were not intentionally ungrateful it was just that our actions did not show it. From that experience I learned that perspective is much more than the ability to change our thoughts but to also work to have our thoughts and actions congruent. I challenge you to take stock of your thoughts and actions and begin to align what you believe with what you do.

The energy of possibility is far stronger and more exciting than when we are talking about our issues. Have you ever noticed how you feel when you get stuck in negative thoughts? When you are thinking or talking about your issues you become inward focused, and so does your energy. When fear, doubt or worry become the focal point, it is easy to get sucked into a downward spiral that works to keep you stuck.

Granted, this is not where we want to be, yet we all find ourselves there from time to time. When you recognize that you are stuck, that awareness is 80 % of the making a change. After all, nothing can be changed unless there is recognition of it.

Thinking about what is possible is one way to change the energy and look beyond the issue. Begin this by asking a what if question?

What if everything is working together for my good?

What if all the negative things I think about myself, simply are not true?

What if all my needs were being met? What else might be true?

Asking what if, begins to open your thinking to a story that is larger than your own. It helps you to think beyond your own limits and into a world of possibility. But mostly, you will begin to notice and expect to see the small miraculous parts of life that are there for you every day.

I want to leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

When your life is filled with the desire to see holiness in everyday life, something magical happens: ordinary life becomes extraordinary, and the very process of life begins to nourish your soul. ~Rabbi Harold Kushner

I know many of you have wonderful stories about moving from limited or negative thinking to seeing life in a extraordinary way. If you care to share, I would love to hear. You can leave a comment or send an Email

We don’t mean for it to happen, but often enough, we find ourselves stuck in a pattern of doing something or thinking about something in the same way. It takes awareness and work to make changes that enrich our lives so people are nervous will often ask me to explain the what the benefits are. As soon as the question is asked, they have realized that doing or thinking the same way, limits the richness of their life experiences. When things are the same, there is not much to be surprised about.

I have been making a practice of challenging myself to do new things and shifting my perspective enough to to see more than one side to a story or an issue. I have discovered that it takes a little practice but by making an intention to adopt POSITIVE MOVEMENT MINDSET, my experiences and opportunities have grown and expanded my life.

HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT BY OPENING YOUR MIND TO NEW IDEAS:

You will be inspired by others and they will be inspired by you!

You become more open to asking for help

You will see new challenges as a way to move forward

Failure is not a bad thing, it’s a learning tool

Feedback will help you move forward

Progress takes time and you will get there by taking small steps

Being a lifelong learner becomes a habit

I’m hoping you might also give it try. I’d love to hear from you if you are comfortable sharing. You can email me by responding to this email.

Have you signed up for your complimentary 30 minute phone conversation? You can do so by replying to this email.

This is such an interesting question because I had assumed, at least for myself, that a lot had changed. But when I dug deeper I realized that I was not so sure. Much to my disappointment, I have the about the same amount in my bank account and the scale hasn’t moved much one way or the other. My satisfaction level with my life and relationships is holding steady but nothing is significantly different.

So, what is so bad about keeping life on an even keel? Absolutely nothing, unless of course, you want something to change and it has not. That is where the problem comes in, desiring change and not being able to attain it.

If I have learned anything this last year, it is that change requires not only willingness, but consistent and purposeful action toward the goal, whether it is personal or professional. It is true, you can’t do what you have always done and expect a different result; something has to change.

I have learned that you need to set yourself up for success by breaking the goal into small manageable pieces that you can do everyday. Case in point, I had been wanting to write my second book for for 5 or 6 years, always putting it on the back burner. One day a fellow writer and friend challenged me to get it done by September, which was 5 months away. After I tried to talk myself out of the idea, as I always do, this phrase keep coming back to me, If not now, when? It would also mean breaking all the pieces down to small steps and accomplish a little over time.

That simple phrase helped me to shift my perspective from I can’t to Yes, indeed I can! It does not matter if your goal is big or small, you need support and a path and a plan to reach it. I challenge you to enlist someone that help you make a path and a plan and support you in the process.

I would love to hear what you are working towards. Feel free to leave a comment or reply to this email,

Every day we make thousands of decisions, some big and some small. Then there are some that need to be made and yet we sit on them, analyze the pro’s and con’s to death and never really make the decision. Maybe fear takes over or we are not confident in our ability to do it. Whatever it is, we stay stuck.

This past summer my granddaughter came for a visit and she taught me a simple, but yet profound piece of wisdom. I took her to the amusement park at MOA to ride the approved rides, basically nothing that turned her upside down or was a roller coaster. However, the minute we walked in she spotted the roller coaster and wanted to ride it. I explained that she would not like it and that her parents had told me she was scared to death of these rides. Doing my best to discourage her but nothing worked, as she was determined to ride it. After a careful assessment that she would be OK, I decided to let her try. Long story short, she came off that ride beaming from ear to ear, so proud of herself for doing. She rode another 3 times!

On the way home we talked about how she overcame her fear and how courageous she was for doing something that scared her. Then I asked her why she decided to ride it and she simply replied, “I just decided it was time and I did not want to be scared any more”. My jaw dropped at her wisdom and I wondered how many times fear kept me from making a decision.

I figure that if my granddaughter can overcome her fear just by deciding to do so, then I can too! How about you? Are you willing to make a decision that scares you?

For more Inspirational reading or to find out about coaching visit sandythibaultlifecoach.com or follow my Facebook page. As always, thank you for reading my blog!